Word Study:

Even though word study is only 20 minutes of our day. It is a very important 20 minutes. Studying words and understanding the way words are formed helps to formulate the knowledge we have to decode words while reading and also write words while composing our writing. Learning the English language is tough! But we have a GROWTH MINDSET about it and are constantly trying to stretch our brain and learn new words in order to become better readers and writers! 

Practice at home is equally as important!

At home to practice students should do ONE QUICK (about 5 minutes)  activity: blind sort, written blind sort, spell words out loud, alphabet magnet OR Scrabble tiles, make TWO sets of cards and play memory, rewrite each word in a sentence, type the words on a computer, go on a word hunt, create word puzzles - ideas are endless! 

***Find whatever way is most successful for your child to learn their words!

**TIPS - focus on the words you believe are challenging your child the most AND

look at how your child’s words are being formed**

Rocks and Minerals

We have begun our study of rocks and minerals. Today was our second day observing the physical characteristics of rocks. We are examining rocks looking at their color, texture, shape, size, weight, and any unique characteristics it may have (such as fossils). We have 12 different rocks to examine. The class is going to take what they know about these rocks and sort them into categories. They will do their best with what they know about each type of rock to attempt to sort them into sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic. I know that my 3rd grade scientists have it in them to find the clues!